Troubles in Africa

Re: “Elections could boost Congo,” and “Strengthen effort for Darfur,” July 26 editorials.

As a returned Peace Corps volunteer from Africa, I want to congratulate The Post for having two editorials on one day dealing with Africa.

Your editorial on the Congo stated: ” … the United Nations estimates 1,200 people, half of them children, die every day – victims of fighting, disease and hunger in a nation of about 60 million. (An estimated 100 Iraqi civilians were killed daily in June.)”

People concerned about “family values” need to understand the concept of “proportionality.” Six hundred children dying a day in the Congo is a fact well-known to God. Where do we religious folks need to put our concern for children, given these facts?

Rev. John T. Norris,Pastor, First Christian Church, Salida

When in Rome …

Re: “State name game: Pronouncing ‘Colorado,”‘ July 25 Open Forum.

The friendly debate over the “proper” pronunciation of our local place names is both intriguing and amusing. While living in the Willamette Valley of Oregon for two years during graduate school, I encountered the same there. The locals quickly picked up that we were from elsewhere when we said “will-a-METTE” (French pronunciation) not “will-AM-et” (from the Native American pronunciation). Oregon is pronounced “ORYgun,” not “ory-GONE.” Locals had bumper stickers proclaiming their nativity with the proper pronunciation (ORYgun). We quickly adapted to the preferred local pronunciation, proclaiming our adoption of our new home through our speech.

I am always amused by newcomers who pronounce Colorado place names differently (including Estes, Berthoud and Limon). In the long run, it doesn’t matter. Even my father and I pronounce some things differently, and we are both Colorado natives.

Earen Russell,Fort Collins

Extreme kayaking

On a recent hike, near tree line in the Indian Peaks Wilderness Area, I encountered two kayakers who were “cleaning out” a high-elevation stream of deadfall in preparation for a first descent. When I explained the negative impact of their actions on this stream, they responded that if they couldn’t clear it, that wouldn’t be any “fun” because then they couldn’t run it. These “obstacles” are not a “problem” for nature.

An image persists that people involved in outdoor sports naturally have a respect for the outdoors. What undermines this image is extreme kayakers and rafters who feel it necessary to “clean the routes” of rivers and streams to enable first descents by removing log jams and overhanging windfall. By cleaning the route, they greatly alter and simplify a basic part of headwater (high-elevation creeks) stream ecology. Overhanging windfall provides pathways for small mammals to disperse and mix with other populations. Fallen logs in the water (woody debris) alter stream velocity, allowing for the sorting of streambed material, both of which provide habitat for aquatic invertebrates, and creates for fish hiding and resting cover, important over-wintering habitat, and places to spawn.

Extreme kayaking or rafting is not a benign use of the land, not when important ecological components need to be removed.

Dave A. Schmaltz,Boulder

Western water woes

Just how bad does our water situation have to get before we start de-salting ocean water to supply our thirsty Western states? Relying on the annual snowfall here in Colorado is often unsatisfactory, especially in years when the snowpack is low and our population growth rate continues to be high. Other Western states need more water too.

Who has the authority to handle something as big as this would be? I don’t think it’s too soon to start working on it.

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